New York Note: NYS Legislative Session Concludes 2025

June 18, 2025

The 2025 New York State legislative session has concluded. For the 2025-2026 session, all bills not passed this year will remain live, and session is scheduled to begin again in January. We anticipate that the Governor will call a special session this fall focused on the budget, given likely federal funding cuts to the state.

When the 856 bills passed this session are delivered to Governor Hochul, she has the option to sign, veto, negotiate chapter amendments, or allow the bills to become law without her signature. If the Governor vetoes a bill, the legislature has the power to override the veto with a two/thirds majority vote; however, the State Senate no longer holds a supermajority, making an override unlikely.

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Below are some of the most significant accomplishments of the state session, including both legislation and budget items:

TAXES AND REFUNDS

  • Tripled child tax credit: up to $1000 for families with a child under 4
  • Inflation refund checks: $200 for individuals and $400 for families
  • Extension on “millionaire tax” through Fiscal Year 2032
  • Payroll mobility tax to change to 0.055% – 0.895% on NYC-area companies

EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE

  • “Bell to bell” cell phone ban in schools
  • $400M for child care vouchers

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

  • Repealing a rule requiring utility companies to supply natural gas to any customer within 100 feet of an existing gas line

HOUSING

  • Strengthening anti-discrimination protections in real estate appraisals by prohibiting biased property valuations and expanding penalties for violations
  • $50M for Revolving Loan Fund

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  • Medical Aid in Dying Act
    • Would provide terminally ill patients with the opportunity to end their lives
  • Mandating health insurance coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer
  • $56M for supportive housing parity in the New York State Supportive Housing Program

PUBLIC SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY

  • Increased criminal penalties for crimes committed while wearing a mask
  • Prison and parole reform omnibus bill
    • Increase the members on the state Commission of Correction
    • Expands the authority of the independent oversight organization Correctional Association of New York
    • Direct the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to conduct a study into deaths at state prisons
  • Changes to involuntary commitment laws

LABOR, EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS

  • Wrongful Death Act
    • Would alter the state’s wrongful death statute and make it easier for families to sue for emotional damages after the loss of a loved one
  • FAIR Business Practices Act
  • Would permit the Attorney General to bring actions or proceedings for unfair business practices

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Parkland alienation bill, which would allow the Metropolitan Park casino project to move forward
  • Responsible AI Safety and Education Act
    • Would require AI developers to build in safety measures against potential risks, such as the development of bioweapons or acts of automated crime
    • Would only apply to very large AI companies

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

  • The NYS legislature did not ultimately address or pass several bills that gained attention throughout the year, including:
    • 21st Century Antitrust Act
      • Would prohibit practices that establish a monopoly in NYS, and authorize a class action lawsuit in the state antitrust law
    • Stop Super Speeders Act
      • Would require a speed-limiting device to be installed in the cars of motorists consistently violating the speed limit
    • Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
      • Would require companies that sell plastics to pay for its recycling and require companies to make all plastic products recyclable
    • Bottle Bill
      • Would expand the types of bottles redeemable and increase the five-cent deposit on bottles

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